McCann is back in the frame

By Neil Irvine

8:29PM GMT 10 Feb 2002

Hearts (0) 0 Rangers (0) 2

FOLLOWING the example of fellow Scottish international Billy Dodds, Neil McCann became the latest to paint himself back into Rangers' picture with a masterful performance in Saturday's comfortable victory.

At the end of last month, it was Dodds who proved himself against Hibernian in the Cup while at Tynecastle, McCann made it a miserable evening for the other half of Edinburgh with a sharp reminder of the talents which catalysed his move from Hearts three years ago.

However, like Dodds, McCann failed to feature with any regularity during the Dick Advocaat era. Despite the Dutch coach having paid good money for both, little patience or perseverence was shown.

Advocaat's refusal to revise his first judgement of some players has been highlighted since the arrival of Alex McLeish as Rangers manager. McLeish wants to see for himself. "Forget the past, now is your chance," has been the mantra, and the results speak volumes.

As does McLeish. "I try to get round everyone and frequently have a few words," he said after his own players had let their football do the talking. "It was a great performance with wonderful application," added McLeish, who delighted in his side's workrate. "When the forwards begin chasing back, then you know there's progress."

That said, such was Rangers' dominance that rarely were they forced to chase the game.

Two telling facts illustrated this balance of power; the nomination of Hearts goalkeeper Antti Niemi as the man-of-the-match, and Rangers' reluctance to make any substitutions.

On Tynecastle's patchwork quilt of a pitch, Rangers bedded in with such resolve that not one individual showed any signs of the weariness which might have been expected after Tuesday's extra-time vanquishing of Celtic at Hampden Park.

Arthur Numan continued his comeback from injury, while Lorenzo Amoruso refused to allow a stitched thigh get in the way of duty.

McLeish refused to join in the speculation surrounding the signing of Wolves defender Kevin Muscat, but with the present back four in mean mood, there seems no urgency on this front.

In fact, there was scarcely a weakness, with McCann's vintage performance the highlight. His width and willingness to take on defenders produced a sense of expectation whenever he was in possession, and his goal eight minutes from time sealed his self-satisfaction.

The finish was wholly becoming of the build-up. Alive to the possibilities, McCann advanced from the halfway line to leave a trail of defenders in his wake before placing the ball wide of Niemi.

McCann also contributed to his side's first goal on the hour. His cross from the left was cunningly dummied by Tore Andre Flo, leaving Ronald de Boer with a simple task to tuck the ball past Niemi and inside the post from close range.

Saturday's timely tonic was not just McCann's. De Boer's return to form, together with the ever-improving Fernando Ricksen, promises some double Dutch interest for Rangers in the Amsterdam ArenA, where Holland play friendly host to England this Wednesday.